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State police warn committee: proposed temporary license for domestic-abuse petitioners carries risks; committee rejects bill
Summary
Senate Bill 223, which would have allowed a petitioner for an order of protection to obtain a temporary concealed-carry license, failed in committee after Arkansas State Police testimony warned that a mere filing does not establish abuse and that required one-business-day issuance is infeasible given background checks.
Sponsor introduced Senate Bill 223 as a measure to permit temporary licenses tied to filings for orders of protection. Mary Claire McLaurin of the Arkansas State Police testified in opposition, telling the committee she "practiced family law for 5 years" and that filing a petition "means nothing" until a judge enters an ex parte order; she said allowing issuance based solely on a filing could grant a temporary license without a judicial finding and that the agency lacks the capacity to issue licenses within the one-business-day window because background checks can take up to two weeks.
Senator Flowers, who practices family law, echoed concerns about manipulative or false petitions and urged caution. After discussion, the committee voted on a motion to 'do pass' and the transcript records "the noes have it," meaning the measure failed in committee.
Ending: Senate Bill 223 did not advance out of committee following testimony from the Arkansas State Police and committee debate.
